BELLINGHAM CITY OF

The City of Bellingham is creating "Bellingham Medic One" to provide Bellingham residents with quality, reliable paramedic ambulance services. Bellingham Medic One will provide service to Bellingham citizens as Whatcom Medic One winds down and ceases operation. The first day of Bellingham Medic One operation will be Jan. 1, 2005.
Calls for emergency medical services have increased approximately 8% per year for the past five years. As our population continues to increase, calls for emergency medical service are projected to increase by at least 44% over the next six years.
Bellingham voters are being asked in the November election to consider approving stable, dedicated funding for Bellingham Medic One through a 35-cent per thousand property tax levy. It is a 'restricted use' tax. The money can only be used to fund Bellingham Medic One. Most Medic One programs in Washington are funded by dedicated property tax levies.
The owner of a property assessed at $100,000 will pay $35 per year if voters approve the Bellingham Medic One Levy. This would represent about 3% of that property's total tax bill. For purposes of comparison, the voter-approved Greenways levy, which funds open space and trails, is 57 cents per thousand or about $57 per year for the same property.
If the levy is approved by voters, the city will collect an estimated $1.6 million in revenue next year, based on 2004 assessed valuation. The levy would generate an estimated $11 million (again based on 2004 assessed valuation) in funds dedicated to Bellingham Medic One during the six years it is proposed. After that, the city would consider whether to ask the voters to authorize a future levy.

The City of Bellingham is creating "Bellingham Medic One" to provide Bellingham residents with quality, reliable paramedic ambulance services. Bellingham Medic One will provide service to Bellingham citizens as Whatcom Medic One winds down and ceases operation. The first day of Bellingham Medic One operation will be Jan. 1, 2005.
Calls for emergency medical services have increased approximately 8% per year for the past five years. As our population continues to increase, calls for emergency medical service are projected to increase by at least 44% over the next six years.
Bellingham voters
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